His dragon laughed. He's read one too many books.
Asher focused on the male. "Honoria isn't going to poison anyone, just like I'm not going to start a war with anyone. We all know firsthand what a rotten leader is like, and I vow to never be one."
Silence fell over the group. Maybe Asher should've tiptoed around the issue, but doing so long term wouldn't help the clan. They need to acknowledge the former leader's reign, talk about it, and begin to heal and move on.
Honoria lightly touched his back, and he took comfort from it. "I know you won't be like that, Ash."
One of the females spoke up. "Me, too, Mr. Asher. You always went out of your way to show how even those of us who are a bit weaker and slower than usual could flee, if needed. You always cared about all of us."
The group of his former students all murmured something similar. And for the first time, Asher truly believed there was hope for Skyhunter.
His beast spoke up. Their belief is only the beginning. Others will follow, especially as we progress through the trials.
Asher liked the fact his dragon was confident, without being overly so.
One of the younger males spoke up. "We'll be cheering you on, Mr. Asher. And maybe someday, you can teach us a few more of your tricks. Not that we'll need them if you and your partner win, but it'd be nice to learn them all the same. After all, the dragon hunters or Dragon Knights could come down south at any time."
So far, both enemies had mostly focused on Stonefire and Lochguard to the north. However, Asher worried about them coming to Skyhunter and possibly sweet-talking some of the more vulnerable clan members into helping them, especially if they rejected a dual leadership if he and Honoria won.
His beast grunted. If they work with anyone out to drain dragon-shifters of their blood, then maybe they're too stupid to live.
A clan leader can't protect only the intelligent. Part of our job will be to watch out for the most vulnerable.
His dragon huffed. I'm sure in the days of old they banished the weaker ones from the clan in order to survive.
You don't really mean that.
No, although if we don't eat soon, I'm going to get even grumpier and propose more old-fashioned traditions.
Not dignifying his cranky dragon with a response, he glanced around the group of former students. "If things ever settle down enough, I'll hold some special training days in the future. But just know that there is a lot to do before things will probably settle down here."
One of the females bobbed her head. "I know, Mr. Asher. But we'll be waiting all the same."
Asher made his goodbyes and followed Honoria. Once they were out of earshot, she spoke up again. "Well, at least we know not everyone will dismiss me working with you."
"I'm sure others will approve, and hopefully more will follow. But first, we need to be as prepared as we can be. So let's hurry up to your place so you can catch me up on everything I missed."
Honoria nodded. "We'll go, but I propose a race. The last one to my place has to shell and devein the shrimp?"
He was about to say he didn't know where she lived now, but Honoria was already running away. All Asher could do was grab his clothes, tug them on, and follow.
Even though Honoria had cheated, he smiled the whole way to her cottage, and even more so when he finally caught up to her. It'd been a while since he'd had to chase a female, and Asher forgot how much he liked it.
~~~
Maybe it'd been childish to suggest a race—especially one to a location Asher didn't know about—but Honoria had wanted to win and make Asher clean up the shrimp for dinner. And so she ran as fast as she could, Asher's footsteps behind her telling her he wasn't far behind.
Her dragon spoke up. Yes, yes, I like the chase.
He's not chasing us, dragon.
Are you sure? He could eat anywhere. And maybe even find out more about Stonefire and Lochguard on his own, too. No, he's chasing us.
You're turning into a one-track mind sort of dragon, aren't you?
Her beast grunted. Only because you do the human thing and deny what we both want.
I said I wanted him, but not yet.